Calls for full Cloyne Report to be published as diocese awaits new Bishop appointment

St. Colman’s Cathedral, in the Diocese of Cloyne, County Cork
Photo by: Google Images

Victims of clerical sex abuse want the unpublished chapter of the controversial Cloyne Report made public as the Cork diocese awaits the appointment of a new bishop.

Speculation is mounting that the Vatican will now appoint a successor to Bishop John Magee after confirmation that Irish-American Monsignor Charles Brown is the new Papal Nuncio to Ireland.

Archbishop Dr Dermot Clifford, currently running the East Cork diocese after the retirement of Bishop Magee, has admitted that the new man will need to show strong leadership.

A report in Monday’s Irish Independent also states that the incoming Bishop and the Dublin government will have to deal with calls to publish the final chapter of the Cloyne Report.

The controversial document was released after a two year investigation by Judge Yvonne Murphy and led to a major row between Church and state with Prime Minister Enda Kenny openly critical of the Holy See.

Judge Murphy’s final report outlined how church leaders in Cloyne failed to act properly on reported cases of clerical abuse, including sexual assaults on children. It also accused the Church of failing to co-operate with state bodies investigating the abuse claims.

One chapter of the report was held back on legal advice from the High Court but victims have now called for the document to be published in its entirety according to the Independent.

One victim told the paper that it is ‘vital’ that the withheld chapter be released.

“The truth has to be told and the only way that can happen is for all the information to be released. The full report should be published,” he told the Independent.

Victim groups also support the publication of the full Cloyne Report and have called on the Irish government to seek High Court clarification on the status of the missing chapter.

Dr Clifford admitted at the time the report was published that ‘lies had been told’ by members of the clergy at the centre of the investigations.

A number of cases between abuse victims and the Cloyne diocese are currently being settled.

“Priests in Cloyne will need very strong leadership,” said Dr Clifford as locals await the arrival of a new Bishop, probably in the New Year.